CHAPTER XIX.

GUS HAS AN ADVENTURE.

The accident that had happened to the stout youth was easily explained. In order to make sure that the line should not slip through his hands, Gus had very foolishly tied it about his wrist; and when it became evident that he could not haul in the shark, he found that neither could he loosen the line, which was now pulled into a hard knot.

He then braced himself against the rail and raised the cry for help heard by the others. But the strain on his arm was terrible, and when the shark gave an extra heavy tug, Gus went overboard in a twinkling.

The tension on the rope carried him fully fifteen feet from the steamer. He struck the water with a loud splash, and then disappeared beneath the surface.

“Man overboard!” cried Oliver. “Good heavens! what shall we do?”

“Man the boat!” sang out Captain Morris, who saw at a glance what had taken place. “Quick, boys! Sharks are thick here!”

These last words carried terror to Oliver’s heart. They could bear but one meaning, and that was that poor Gus was in danger of being devoured.

“What can we do?” he asked, appealing to Mr. Whyland.

“Not much. They are getting the boat out as fast as they can. Your friend was very foolish to tie that line fast to his wrist.”

“See! see! the shark is making for him!” cried Oliver in a strained voice. “What can we do? Oh, Mr. Whyland!”

“We can do nothing. Heaven grant they reach the poor boy in time. But――but――I fear not!” And the gentleman turned away to hide his emotion.

Oliver glanced around. It was terrible to be so helpless. He and Gus were the closest of friends. He could never let his chum perish without trying to save him. He ought to do something――he would do something!

He looked along the deck, and his gaze fell upon a short but stout knife that the sailors had used in cutting away some of the half-burned bales of cloth. He picked up the knife, and taking it between his teeth, stripped off his coat.

“What are you going to do?” asked Mr. Whyland, hurrying towards him.

“See if I cannot help him,” was Oliver’s determined reply.

“But the peril――”

“I would never forgive myself if Gus perished and I did not do a thing to save him.”

And before the other could interfere, Oliver was on the rail and over the side.

“The bravery of one boy in a thousand,” murmured Mr. Whyland to himself. “I would give half I possess to have such a son!”

Oliver had made a careful calculation before he left the rail, and when he rose to the surface of the water he was not over two yards away from Gus. He struck out at once, and in an instant was beside his friend.

“Oliver! Save me!”

“Is the rope fast to your wrist?”

“Yes.”

“Let me cut it.”

Gus held up his arm, and the next moment the cord was severed.

“Now strike out for the steamer,” said Oliver. “The shark is after you!”

And side by side they struck out.

But the shark was already close at hand. Try their best, they could not get away from him. Gus gave a piercing shriek.

“He is after my foot!”

“Dive!” called out Oliver; and he set the example.

Gus followed. When they rose again, the shark was but a few feet away. They could see him getting ready to turn over, preparatory to opening his jaws for a snap at either one or the other.

The monster turned toward Gus. The stout youth gave another cry of terror.

“Help! Help!”

Then Oliver thought of the knife still in his hand. Grasping the handle of the weapon firmly, he swam up, and buried the blade deeply in the shark’s head.

There was a wild slashing of the monster’s tail, and the water was dyed crimson. A moment later the boat appeared, and Gus was hauled in.

Then the shark turned his attention to Oliver. But the boy struck out firmly with the knife, once, twice, three times; and then the shark turned over and floated off――dead.

“The bravest deed I ever saw!” cried Mr. Willett, as they helped Oliver into the boat. “After this don’t dare to tell me the age of heroes is gone by.”

“Can we get that shark?” panted Oliver. “I――I would like to keep some part of the fellow as a remembrance of this event.”

“We’ll haul him on board,” said Mr. Willett. And later on this was done.

When they turned their attention to Gus they found that he had fainted. It took fully a quarter of an hour’s work to restore him to consciousness, and even then he was so weak from the terror of what had occurred that he had to lie down for the remainder of the day.

Now that it was all over, Oliver, too, felt rather shaky in the legs. However, he watched the men get the shark aboard, and then spent some time in examining the monster.

“As large a shovel-nose as I have ever seen,” said Captain Morris. “It’s a wonder that he didn’t make mince-meat of both of you.”

The boy selected some of the teeth, and after they were broken out of the jaw-bone, the carcass was sent to the galley to be tried out.

“I guess we won’t want to go shark fishing after this,” said Mr. Whyland.

“No,” rejoined Oliver with a shiver; “I don’t even want to see another of the ugly things!”

“They are awfully dangerous creatures,” went on Mr. Whyland. “Many a one-legged sailor has had the missing limb taken off by just such a fellow as this.”

“And many a sailor has had his head taken off instead of his leg,” put in Captain Morris. “I wouldn’t do what you did for a thousand dollars!”

“Neither would I again,” replied Oliver; “but I think too much of Gus to let him become food for sharks.”

After this they separated, and Oliver went down to the stateroom. No sooner did he enter than Gus threw his arms about his chum’s neck.

“Oh, Olly! how can I thank you?” he cried. “You saved my life!” And the tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Don’t try to do it, Gus. I know you would have done as much for me if it was necessary.”

“I don’t know. You are awfully brave. I’ll never forget it as long as I live!”

“I guess you’ve had enough adventures on this trip,” said Oliver. He found his own eyes growing moist, and he thought best to turn the matter into a laugh.

“Yes, indeed! I sha’n’t attempt another thing while I am on board.”

On the following day the steamer sighted Mazatlan. The course of the Polly Eliza was now directly across the bay of Lower California.

“We shall soon be in sight of Cape St. Lucas,” said Captain Morris; “and unless something happens we’ll soon reach the Golden Gate.”

Fortunately the weather remained fine, and the little party was thus enabled to spend the days on deck. Much about the little coast steamer pleased the boys, and Captain Morris and the others made every effort to have the time pass pleasantly.

“It won’t be long afore we part,” he said to Oliver. “I trust we may meet again some day; but if we don’t you can make up your mind that I’ll never forget what you did towards saving the Polly Eliza from destruction.”

“Will you remain long in San Francisco?” asked Oliver.

“Only long enough to get my cargo. But if I can be of service to you I’ll stay a week,” added the captain quickly.

“I only wanted to know where the mining boards and stock companies are located.”

“Most of them are on Montgomery and Pine Streets. You’ll find them in the directory.”

“Then that’s all I want to know for the present.”

The time seemed to drag now, so impatient were the boys to set foot on shore. Mr. Whyland could not help but smile at both of them, though he himself was also very eager to have the voyage over.

But all journeys must come to an end, and one fine morning the Polly Eliza dropped anchor just outside of one of the many wharves.

Then the boat took them and Mr. Whyland ashore. They were not long in scrambling up the dock.

“San Francisco at last!” cried Oliver.